Bail, then NSA: Assam keeps land rights activist in jail

Bengaluru: A day after a sessions court granted bail to land rights activist Pranab Doley, the Assam government invoked the National Security Act (NSA), preventing his release from prison. Doley was arrested over a protest against the proposed Hyatt luxury hotel project near Kaziranga National Park. The preventive detention order, issued on July 30 under Section 3(2) of the NSA, empowers the state to detain a person to prevent activities considered prejudicial to public order or state security.

Doley, who has been at the forefront of protests against the five-star hotel project, was arrested on July 13 over a June 28 demonstration near Kaziranga. He was booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, criminal trespass and obstructing public servants.

The detention order cites several criminal cases registered against Doley over the past decade, alleging involvement in violence, attacks on public servants and activities affecting public order. It also accuses him of receiving unaccounted funds from suspicious domestic and foreign sources and raises concerns that he could evade legal proceedings.

However, the Golaghat sessions court had granted Doley bail on July 29 after considering these allegations. According to sources familiar with the case, the government's decision to invoke the NSA was intended to keep the activist in custody despite the bail order, which could not be aced upon immediately because the certified copy of the judgment became available only on July 31.

Police have accused Doley of helping plan and instigate violence during the June protest, allegations he disputes.